A Home That Was Meant to Be

Welcome home, Arkala!

Like many renters in recent years, Arkala watched her rent climb higher and higher. Eventually, she began to wonder if those monthly payments could go toward something of her own instead.

“The rent was going up really high. I thought, if I'm going to pay $1,200 or $1,300 a month, I might as well have my own mortgage and build equity in my own home,” she said.

Working for the Tulsa Health Department, Arkala first learned about Green Country Habitat for Humanity through a friend who encouraged her to apply. Unsure of what to expect, she decided to take a chance and sign up for a Homeowner Orientation.

From there, Arkala was approved for the program and began her classes. She says she learned a lot along the way, but more importantly, never felt like she was navigating it alone.

“They walk you through everything. They don’t rush you or pressure you. They make you feel like you can do it.”

Then came the time to choose her home. But for Arkala, it felt more like the home chose her. Her mother had always wanted a red front door, so when she saw one on a house she was touring, it just felt right. The signs didn’t stop there.

Arkala knew this was her new home when she saw the red door.

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“When I looked over toward the neighbors, I saw two red cardinals,” she recalled. “They reminded me of my mother and grandmother. I thought, ‘This is my house.’”

The home’s accessibility mattered to her too. “This will be my forever home,” she said. “As I get older, I won’t have any problems getting in and out of the shower.”

Now settled in, Arkala has a space big enough for the family tradition that matters most to her: Christmas breakfast, with room for everyone to gather comfortably.

Her advice to others considering homeownership is simple.

“Start with Green Country Habitat for Humanity,” she said. “They’ll take care of you every step of the way.”

For Arkala, this home is more than a mortgage — it’s a place to build family traditions, plan for the future, and feel close to the memories of those who came before her.

Congratulations, Arkala — and special thanks to TTCU for providing an affordable mortgage!